Your body does a lot. It never stops working in one way or another, so how you treat it is incredibly important. And since you only get one body, ensuring you’re making good choices should be a priority.
While there are a lot of things you can do to keep yourself healthy, your diet and sleep are especially important. They’re also more closely related than you might realize and understanding how they work together will go a long way in your quest to keep your body and mind healthy.
For Hormonal Balance
Did you know that one of the biggest culprits for hormonal imbalance stems from both poor diet and inadequate sleep?
While you might not realize it, how you feel depends largely on not just hormonal balance, but the production of hormones as well. And when you’re eating a balanced diet full of foods to help you sleep, your body will be able to regulate this.
Have you ever noticed how you might not sleep so well after a day or two of not eating the best? When this happens, your body isn’t able to adequately produce and balance the hormones it needs to get a restful night’s sleep, such as melatonin. Unfortunately, you can expect an overproduction of cortisol the next day, which is stress-related and can cause plenty of undesirable issues.
For Establishing Healthy Habits
One of the most important things to remember about diet and sleep is that the better you’re sleeping, the better your chances are of making good food choices the next day. Feeling great and making good decisions will come once you’ve established a healthy sleep routine, so be sure to prioritize this one.
When you wake up feeling groggy, do you tend to stop at the drive-thru for a sugary coffee and donut? Do you find yourself mindlessly snacking on chips or giving in to a craving for candy or soda throughout the day? There’s a reason for this. Feeling fatigued increases the desire for quick sources of energy, often found in processed and refined foods. However, these choices will do your body more harm than good. In addition to eventual weight gain, you can expect to feel even more fatigued after the initial energy rush wears off.
When you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day, you’re more likely to take the time preparing a nutritious breakfast, such as an egg scramble or a stick-to-your-ribs bowl of oatmeal. If you’re just not a morning person, make meal prep your friend. Carve out time to make breakfast ahead of time, so all you need to do in the morning is heat and eat. Not only are these types of foods better for you, but they also offer sustainable energy to get you through your morning and lessen your chances of reaching for that break room donut.
For Improving Your Health
Your health depends on a lot of things. Some of are within your control, some aren’t. Fortunately, you do have control over two of the things that have a huge impact on it. And if your guess is diet and sleep, you’re spot on.
It’s no surprise that when you’re healthy, you sleep soundly. But what about when you’re not your healthiest? What if health conditions, unhealthy daily habits or physical symptoms of stress have manifested, leaving you with issues such as heartburn? Not only does this mean interrupted sleep, but it can also lead to more health issues as a result.
Take time to research your symptoms and examine not only your diet but your routine and lifestyle as well. Is there anything you’re doing throughout the day that could be contributing to conditions you’re dealing with at night? Where can you reduce stress throughout your day? Making even one or two small changes to your diet and sleep routines can make a big difference in your health.
It’s easy to see how tightly knit diet and sleep truly are, especially once you look at the bigger picture. And when it comes to your health and well-being, it’s incredibly important to make sure you’re doing all you can to strike an even balance between the two.
